Finding the Right Fit: A Guide to Top Civil Engineering Colleges

The Golden Gate Bridge, the Hoover Dam, the Brooklyn Bridge, the World Trade Center Transportation Hub - these are just a few examples of impressive civil engineering feats accomplished in the United States. For students who are fascinated by infrastructure and enjoy the challenge of large, multifaceted problem-solving, civil engineering might be a great choice for a college major. If you want to manage similarly remarkable projects, you cannot go wrong with a Bachelor’s or Master’s in Civil Engineering.

Civil engineering is a true multidisciplinary pursuit, merging fields such as science and engineering with others like business, economics, and management. Many colleges across the country offer a major in civil engineering, so there are plenty of options to choose from.

Why Study Civil Engineering?

Civil engineering is a strong career choice that will offer little chance of getting bored. Civil engineers can be employed by government departments, utility companies, architectural firms, and engineering firms, or they can become independent consultants. Typically, a civil engineer will split time between the office and the field. In the office, he or she will create and test plans to solve problems and meet needs. In the field, he or she will meet engineers, architects, and other project managers.

Civil engineering is a career with great job security and solid earning potential. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that civil engineering will see job growth of 11% by 2026, which is above the national average for all occupations. It also reports that the median annual pay for a civil engineer is $86,640. In addition to an undergraduate degree, civil engineers also need to be licensed. These requirements vary according to the state that you’re working in, but in general licensure requires a college degree, a minimum number of years working in the field, and a passing score on a licensure exam. Exams can also vary by state, but you can see the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying site to learn more.

Navigating the College Application Process

College admissions are competitive, and if the trend continues they will only become more so. Planning your approach to college applications and your applicant profile is important.

Building a Strong Applicant Profile

An optimal college application will demonstrate academic success and extracurricular commitment throughout an applicant’s high school years, not just during 11th grade.

Take a Broad Course Load at a High Level: While much of civil engineering is rooted in STEM field studies, it includes a lot more than just math and science. You should aim to take a well-rounded course load at the highest level that you’re capable of succeeding in. Taking classes like AP Calculus BC, AP Physics, and AP Macroeconomics will prepare you well for this field and might even allow you to place out of introductory classes when you begin your degree program.

Pursue Extracurriculars that Highlight Problem Solving Skills: Civil engineering often requires out of the box creative thinking to tackle existing problems in new ways. You can build your skills in this area by pursuing extracurriculars like robotics club or Math Olympiad. Sticking with a few, strong extracurriculars for an extended period and taking on progressive responsibility will demonstrate your dedication.

Build a Strong Admissions Team: To get started early, we often recommend that ninth and tenth graders build a supportive and experienced admissions team to help along the way. This is why we designed the CollegeVine Early Advising Program, which pairs high school ninth and tenth graders with successful students at top-30 schools to provide current high schoolers with advice on everything from selecting classes and extracurriculars to setting and achieving longterm goals.

Top Universities for Civil Engineering

Choosing the right college for civil engineering is a crucial step towards a successful career. Here's a look at some of the best schools in the United States, considering various rankings and student reviews.

Read also: Computer Science College Guide

Rankings and Recognition

According to the latest university rankings, these are some of the best civil engineering schools in the US based on U.S. News & World Report:

University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
Texas A&M University - College Station
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Purdue University - West Lafayette
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech)
University of Texas - Austin
University of California - Davis
University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
Pennsylvania State University

College Factual looked at 248 colleges and universities when compiling its 2025 Best Civil Engineering Schools ranking. Your choice of civil engineering school matters, so we have put together these rankings to help you make your decision.

Spotlight on Top Programs

Here's a closer look at some of the top schools for civil engineering, based on College Factual's 2025 rankings, highlighting their strengths and unique aspects:

Stanford University: Stanford is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in civil engineering. Stanford is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large suburb of Stanford. A Best Colleges rank of #10 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Stanford is a great university overall. There were approximately 181 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at Stanford in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the civil engineering program at Stanford University make $11,971 above the average college grad with the same degree when they enter the workforce.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT): It is difficult to beat Massachusetts Institute of Technology if you wish to pursue a degree in civil engineering. Located in the midsize city of Cambridge, MIT is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #1 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means MIT is a great school overall. There were roughly 47 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at MIT in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the civil engineering major at Massachusetts Institute of Technology make $17,036 more than the typical college grad in this field when they enter the workforce.

Read also: Becoming a Better Student
University of California - Davis: It is difficult to beat University of California - Davis if you want to pursue a degree in civil engineering. Located in the suburb of Davis, UC Davis is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 10th out of 161 schools for overall quality in the state of California. There were roughly 227 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at UC Davis in the most recent year we have data available.
Northwestern University: It is hard to beat Northwestern University if you want to pursue a degree in civil engineering. Northwestern is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the small city of Evanston. A Best Colleges rank of #5 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Northwestern is a great university overall. There were about 60 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at Northwestern in the most recent data year.
University of Southern California (USC): USC is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Los Angeles. A Best Colleges rank of #13 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means USC is a great university overall. There were approximately 79 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at USC in the most recent data year. Those civil engineering students who get their degree from University of Southern California receive $17,116 more than the standard civil eng graduate.
Columbia University in the City of New York: Located in the city of New York, Columbia is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #15 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Columbia is a great university overall. There were about 118 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at Columbia in the most recent year we have data available. Civil Engineering degree recipients from Columbia University in the City of New York get an earnings boost of around $16,429 over the typical earnings of civil engineering majors.
University of Washington - Seattle Campus: Located in the city of Seattle, UW Seattle is a public university with a very large student population. This university ranks 1st out of 50 colleges for overall quality in the state of Washington. There were roughly 292 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at UW Seattle in the most recent year we have data available. Civil Engineering degree recipients from University of Washington - Seattle Campus earn a boost of around $9,938 above the typical earnings of civil engineering graduates.
New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT): Located in the city of Newark, NJIT is a public school with a large student population. This school ranks 5th out of 45 schools for overall quality in the state of New Jersey. There were approximately 312 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at NJIT in the most recent year we have data available.
Carnegie Mellon University: Located in the large city of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #8 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Carnegie Mellon is a great university overall. There were roughly 97 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at Carnegie Mellon in the most recent data year.
University of California - Berkeley: UC Berkeley is a fairly large public university located in the midsize city of Berkeley. A Best Colleges rank of #14 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means UC Berkeley is a great university overall. There were approximately 383 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at UC Berkeley in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the civil engineering major at University of California - Berkeley earn $6,373 more than the typical graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.
Cornell University: Cornell is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the small city of Ithaca. A Best Colleges rank of #9 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Cornell is a great university overall. There were approximately 87 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at Cornell in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the civil engineering program at Cornell University get $8,492 above the typical college graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.
Stevens Institute of Technology: Stevens is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hoboken. This school ranks 3rd out of 45 colleges for overall quality in the state of New Jersey. There were about 57 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at Stevens in the most recent data year. Those civil engineering students who get their degree from Stevens Institute of Technology receive $6,484 more than the average civil eng graduate.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC): Located in the small city of Champaign, UIUC is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 3rd out of 85 schools for overall quality in the state of Illinois. There were about 313 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at UIUC in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the civil engineering major at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign make $3,759 above the standard graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.
Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus: Located in the large city of Atlanta, Georgia Tech is a public school with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #19 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Georgia Tech is a great school overall. There were approximately 190 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at Georgia Tech in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the civil engineering program at Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus get $5,084 above the average college graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.
Northeastern University: Northeastern is a very large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Boston. This university ranks 6th out of 63 schools for overall quality in the state of Massachusetts. There were roughly 168 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at Northeastern in the most recent data year. Those civil engineering students who get their degree from Northeastern University receive $6,357 more than the standard civil eng graduate.
Texas A&M University - College Station: Located in the midsize city of College Station, Texas A&M College Station is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 1st out of 115 colleges for overall quality in the state of Texas. There were roughly 320 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at Texas A&M College Station in the most recent data year. Those civil engineering students who get their degree from Texas A&M University - College Station make $4,145 more than the typical civil eng student.
New York University (NYU): Located in the large city of New York, NYU is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #16 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means NYU is a great university overall. There were approximately 85 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at NYU in the most recent year we have data available. Civil Engineering degree recipients from New York University get an earnings boost of around $7,996 over the typical income of civil engineering majors.
University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA): Located in the city of Los Angeles, UCLA is a public university with a fairly large student population. This university ranks 4th out of 161 colleges for overall quality in the state of California. There were roughly 199 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at UCLA in the most recent data year. Those civil engineering students who get their degree from University of California - Los Angeles make $6,787 more than the typical civil eng student.
University of California - San Diego (UCSD): UCSD is a very large public university located in the large city of La Jolla. This university ranks 8th out of 161 colleges for overall quality in the state of California. There were about 187 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at UCSD in the most recent data year.
Duke University: Located in the large city of Durham, Duke is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #7 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means Duke is a great university overall. There were roughly 32 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at Duke in the most recent data year.
Virginia Tech: Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Tech is a public school with a fairly large student population. This school ranks 2nd out of 57 schools for overall quality in the state of Virginia. There were about 327 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at Virginia Tech in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the civil engineering degree program at Virginia Tech earn $2,949 above the average college grad in this field shortly after graduation.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI): WPI is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Worcester. This school ranks 8th out of 63 schools for overall quality in the state of Massachusetts. There were roughly 61 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at WPI in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the civil engineering major at Worcester Polytechnic Institute make $4,650 more than the typical college graduate in this field shortly after graduation.
University of Notre Dame: Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, Notre Dame is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population. This university ranks 1st out of 41 colleges for overall quality in the state of Indiana. There were roughly 73 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at Notre Dame in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the civil engineering degree program at University of Notre Dame make $2,730 more than the average college graduate with the same degree when they enter the workforce.
University of Maryland - College Park (UMCP): UMCP is a very large public university located in the suburb of College Park. This university ranks 2nd out of 35 schools for overall quality in the state of Maryland. There were roughly 156 civil engineering students who graduated with this degree at UMCP in the most recent year we have data available.

The Student Perspective

Student reviews can provide valuable insights into the academic environment, professors, and overall experience of studying at a particular school. Here are some excerpts from student reviews:

University of California, Berkeley: “UC Berkeley was an amazing academic experience. I was challenged by the faculty and students. The students were diverse. The rankings are consistently high. The professors were accessible. I feel like they want for you to succeed.”
Harvard University: “A great place to be with many brilliant and kind-hearted students and teachers who will push you to be your best self. I was academically challenged, and I grew because of it. It definitely wasn't a perfect experience, and the school definitely has a lot of room to grow, but I'm grateful for the genuine connections that I was able to make.”
University of California, Davis: “Amazing experience overall. The professors are amazing and genuinely care about their students. I feel supported and know where to seek help if I need it. I feel completely at home and feel like I made the right decision about where to go to college. I couldn't ask for a better school.”
Purdue University: “The courses are very relevant to my profession and career. The course delivery is by the Faculty and Industry experts and very detailed with real-world experiences, making it easy to understand and apply.

Additional Options

Other universities offering civil engineering programs include:

Louisiana Tech University | La.
North Carolina A&T State University | N.C.
Saint Martin’s University | St.
University of Missouri-St.

Making Your Decision

There are numerous options to choose from when you’re considering a major in civil engineering. It may seem difficult to narrow down your list, but it’s an important process to go through thoughtfully to ensure that your final college list is a great fit for you.

Consider factors such as location, program focus, research opportunities, faculty expertise, and career services when making your decision. Visiting campuses and talking to current students and faculty can also provide valuable insights.

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